But if nothing went amiss, neither were there particularly fresh interpretive insights.

And Ms. Goerke, as usual, had everything: rich and full sound, interpretive insight, affecting expressivity.

The sound is pretty, the playing often spirited, though without the interpretive insight that distinguishes Mr. Schiff's performances.

The baritone Bo Skovhus brings vocal luster and interpretive insight to the songs from this monumental orchestral cycle frequently performed by a mezzo-soprano.

Indeed, in any musical genre, the audience is as crucial, probably even more crucial, to an aging performer's career as sustained technical control or accrued interpretive insight.

The performances are, too, although to this taste they did not achieve an ultimately memorable level of interpretive insight or technical brilliance.

On Thursday night, in the first three works, the Emerson played with its trademark burnished sound, interpretive insight and passion.

But interpretive insights are few, and the slight touches of novelty are pointlessly and sometimes distractingly odd.

At his peak, he was greatly admired for his interpretive insights and exceptional control of his beautiful voice.

Prodigious facility is not incompatible with musical depth, and interpretive insight is not the sole province of musicians who ruminate in conservatories.